Main image via The Star + Tynker
Since 1965, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has ensured that each mission to space has its very own mission patch. The astronauts who make the trip into space usually get together to design a patch that represents themselves and the mission they embark on.
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This time around, NASA decided to get some help to design a new mission patch.
Tynker, which helps kids learn how to code; recently conduced the Forward to the Moon Mission Patch Design Coding Challenge for students across the globe.
Inspired by NASA’s plans to send the first woman and the next man to the lunar surface by 2024, students were challenged to design and animate a Forward to the Moon mission patch.
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Tynker received over 10,000 submissions globally for the challenge, which was judged by NASA scientists, engineers and graphic designers who looked for originality, execution and effective use of code.
From the 10,000 submissions, five were chosen as winners and one of Malaysia’s own made it into the top five!
Form One student, Teng Wei Rui from SM Pei Min in Miri, Sarawak; was selected as one of the five International Mission Patch Design Challenge 2019 winners.
Image via The Star
The other four winners are Ishhaq Ziyam from Colombo, Sri Lanka; Neal Apte, Madison Morgan, and Paxton Summers from the USA.
Tynker vice president of Educator Programmes, Kaustav Mitra, said that each of the five patches tell a unique story that impressed the judges.
“It was difficult to select out five winners. We are thrilled with the results and hope that this first challenge has inspired a new generation of kids to learn more about space missions, NASA and the impact that makers have on space exploration,” he said.
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Wei Rui, who took up coding lessons last year, was surprised to be named a winner of the competition.
“I’m very proud to have brought honour to my country, state and school,” he said. “The video conference with a NASA expert was good; I told him about my ambition to become an astronaut and asked him for advice.”
According to his teacher, Wei Ru took roughly two days to design the winning patch.
Image via Tynker
The 13-year-old also expressed his plans to take part in more upcoming challenges that will take place in September and October.
Well done, Wei Rui! We couldn’t be prouder! Congratulations on winning!
Info via The Star